At the Human Sciences Cottage, students, staff and family from the United Future Leaders gathered Saturday morning to celebrate Make a Difference Day through hands-on projects meant to serve Lubbock children and families.
“Make a Difference Day is a national day of service,” said Cece Nunez, UFL associate director. “The purpose is to get people of all ages contributing to the community through volunteerism.”
Hosted through the Texas Tech’s Center for Adolescent Resiliency, UFL focuses on developing youth leadership in students from fifth grade through college.
“I like to say that my job is to build healthier communities for adolescents,” Nunez said.
For this year’s event, students created hand-painted doormats for Family Promise, a local organization that supports families to transition out of homelessness.
“It’s a way for us to help families who are finding their forever homes and getting another chance,” said Hannah Hilliard, a senior counseling and addiction recovery sciences major and UFL student assistant.
Hilliard said volunteering provides perspectives beyond the classroom.
“(Volunteering) really helps ground me,” Hilliard said. “Doing a whole bunch of schoolwork, this helps me stay connected to my community and feel like I have more purpose than just school and the monotony of it.”
Hannah Hilliard a senior coupling and addiction recovery sciences major paints a rug during make a difference day at the Human Sciences Cottage Oct. 25, 2025.
Jadon Chesnutt
Other volunteers worked in decorating bags filled with menstrual products and encouraging notes to distribute to Lubbock middle schooler students.
“We’re just writing positive little messages and including some products so that they can be prepared,” said Lexi Gramlow, UFL intern and graduate assistant. “Not everyone can afford the products they need or might have trouble accessing them, so we are just doing our part to help them along.”
Nunez said she hopes the project continues to grow.
“Each year, we want it to get a little bit bigger,” Nunez said. “But more than anything, it’s about camaraderie and making a difference together.”